Automatic train-pipe coupling



H. N. MOORE.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICAHON FILED JUNEZZ. 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Feb. 28, 1,922.

HMM-vare,

ATTORNEY .Y my

WITNESSES.

H. N. MUORE. AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE couPLlNG. APPL-[CANON FILED JUNE 22, 1920.

1,408,378, Patented Feb. 2S, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES UNITED STATES HAROLD N. MOORE, or

PA'reNT OFFICE.

KEARNE'Y, NEBRASKA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

10 all 'whom it may concern-f Be it known thatI, HAROLD- N. Moonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kearney, in the county of Buffalo and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train-Pipe Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

The pi'esent invention has reference to an automatic coupling for the air brake and steam systems of rolling stock. 'Y

The primary object is to produce a comparatively simple meanswherein the coupler members will be guided one by the other to bring the coupling heads together and to retain the heads positively coupled as long as the coaches are connected.

It is a further object to produce an automatic coupling device for the air brakeand steam systems of rolling stock wherein the coupling members will ,be automatically brought to coupled position when the coaches are connected, andV automatically released when the coaches are disconnected, and one wherein the coupler members co-operate with each other in such a manner as to positively bring the coupler heads in proper coupling alignment, while spring influenced means is employed for retaining the coupler heads thus associated.

The foregoing objects, and many others which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction,'combination and operative arrangement of parts, such as is disclosed by the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 Ais a side elevation showing two cars coupled together and provided with the improvement.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

vFigure 4f is a'face View of one of the couplers.

Figure 5 is a sectional view approximately on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a face view of a modified form of coupler.

` Figure 7 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 8 is an edge view thereof.

VFigure 9 is a sectional view approximately on the line 9--9 of Figure 8.

While not disclosed by the drawings, my improved automatic train pipe coupler is of a size and is designed for providing cou- Spccicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 28, 1922. 192e. seriaiNo. 390,775.

pling connections between the air signal line and the steam signal line of rolling stock, the drawings showing only the coupling means for the air brake system.

To the under face of the outer sill of the frames of cars or coaches 1 I secure the upper angle end of a bracket 2. The bracket, at its lower end has bolted thereto an angle brace member 3. Each of the' brackets has a square opening therethrough and each of the openings receives therein the cross sectionally square shank t of the Aimproved couplers. The inner end of each ofthe Shanks may be headed or provided with an opening through which passes an element 5 which serves as a contact member for engagement with the inner face of the bracket 2, each of the Shanks 5 being infiuenced in an outward direction from the bracket by a spring 6wthat is arranged around the shank but contacts with a flange or enlargement 7 on the outer endv of the shank. Y

From each fiange 7 there extends a plurality of angularly disposed arms 8.

In the showing of the drawings four such arms are4 employed, and the said arms connect at their outer ends a substantially rectangular frame 9 thereto.V The frame 9providcs the body member or plate of the respective couplers. .tach frame 9`has its longitudinal members provided with inturned flanges 10, and to these flanges are bolted or otherwise secured the plates 11 that supportthe coupler heads 12. Each head l2 has an anglo face 13' that has an opening communicating with a port Lhrough the head, each of the said'openings receiving therein the reduced portion of flanged gaskets 1 4. vPivotally supported'on each of the plates 11, opposite each of the coupler heads l2, as at 15' is a lever, 16. The lever is ,directed inwardly between two of the arms 8 of the respective frames 9, and has connected. loosely to its inner end a link 17. The link passes through an opening in the bracket 2 and is held on the bracket by a contact member 18 which may be in the nature of a cotter pin and which engages with the inner face of the bracket. On each of the links. 17 there is a fiange or enlargement 19, and also on each of .the lin'ksand y exerting a pressure between the respective brackets 2 and the flanges on the lsaid links is a pressure spring 20.V Then the coupler members are brought one against the other and the gaskets or coupler headsarranged in co-operating engagement, the said coupler members will be moved inwardly to their respective coaches against the tension ot the spring G. to assume an outward angle with, respect to the brackets on which they are loosely arranged, and this angle causes the swinging oit the lovers 17 tobring the said levers into contacting engagement y with the. outer i and angle 'faces 21 oli' the respective coupler heads 12, and this pressure is at all times suiilcient to retain the heads positively coupled.

On the diametrically opposededges olf therespective trames 9 are guide members 22.` invention the guide members eachl comprise two angularly disposed elements 23 that, at their outer ends are provided with inwardly inclined extensions 24 that are connected at their meeting points, thus the guide members are substantially `V-shaped in plan.. -The guide members are designed to be received .in a socket. The socket in the preferred embodiment ol the improvement comprises two spaced outwardly curved fingers'25 that are arranged on the edge of the iframe 9 opposite .i

that provided with the guide. The lingers are spaced al suiicient ,distance apart to snugly receive therebetween the guides or directing elements 22 of the respective plates and the slightly angular A inner portions ot the fingers and of the elements 23 of the guides contact with the opposite edges of the frame 9 when the coupling members are associated.

Preferably the plates at the center and upon the inner faces thereofhave at their 'upper edges each an' eye 26,l and tothese eyes are connected angularly` disposed tleXible sustaining elements 27. The flexible hose 28 connected to the main air line is directed between two of the arms 8 and connected to the pipe end of the respective coupler heads 12.

If desired, and as indicated bythe `dotted lines in the drawings the arms 8 ofthe frames 9 maybe hingedlyfconnected to the shanks 4.

In themodied form of the improvement the construction is substantially similar to,

that` previously described, except that the trames 29, which correspondre the frame 9 have each at their diametrically opposed ends sockets for receiving their guide `members 30 which areformedby simply providing the frames with substantiallyfrectangular openings 31. Theguide members comprise four equi-dist-antly vspaced outstanding elements 32 that converge'toward each other, as at 33 and are .connected at their meeting ends. The straight portions 32 of the guide members contactwith the inner walls provided by the socketl` when the puirinadal outer or nose portion of the guide enters the. socket. In each instance the contacting` engagement ,betweeny the guides and the elements on the trames which receive the` guidesfor a co-actingengagement with This will `canse the links 17 In the preferred embodiment; ot the` each other so that vertical or lateral displacement o the respective frames when Vthe couplers are associated will be entirely overcome.

one which will accommodate itselfto every jerk or strain to which the rolling stock is subjected. The improvement not only automatically couples the air brake line, thc air signal line or the steamline,ibut also when thecouplers for the cars are unlocked, thecoupling elements o'ffmy improvement will be lreadily.disconnected by the move ment of one of the cars away from the other car.. It iste be further, understood vthat the drawings illustrate merely, satisfactory embodiments Aof. the improvement as the same nowappears to me, and that I am cntitled'to all such changes from Vthe showing and from kthe description as `tall within the scope ot my claims. i,

It should be `stated that the plates 11 which carry the; coupler heads may, if desired, `be susceptible toa slight lateral movementr on the viframes 9, so that the spring `influenced levers not only tend to swingthe framestoward each other but acting directly on the coupler heads `will slightly move the same into contacting relationAV and compress the gaskets in the mouths 4of {the said coupler heads. j

Having thus described the' invention,

through the respective brackets,- springmeans influencing the Shanks to move the latter and the frames carried [thereby outward of the lnrackets,` means. (forlimiting such movement,Nco-operating guides and sockets between the respective frames, a

coupler head on each -ot the iframes con nected with the fluid line pipe `and having a compressible gasket at the mouth thereof, each ot said heads .having oppositebeveled comparatively faces, a lever pivotedron `each ofthe framesy Y oppositethe mouth Vof the coupler heads,

Vand spring influenced' linksfbetween Lthe levers and the respect-ivel bracketsl exerting a pressure against the levers to swing'the `same on their pivots to bring the opposite,

ends thereof against t-he coupler heads to Messrs force the latter together and compress the gaskets therebetween.

2. In a train line or similar coupling means, the combination of two cars having` depending brackets at the confronting ends thereof, and brace means for said brackets, of a frame arranged outward of each bracket, flexible sustaining` means between the car and frame, slotted plates carried one by each of the frames, a coupler head supported in the plates and connected with the fluid line pipe of the car, guide means for the respective fra-mes designed to co-operate with means on the other frame, When the frames are brought toward each other to bringthe coupler heads into coupling position, a springiniuenced shank supported on the respective brackets for each of the frames,

and arms between the Shanks and trames, a lever pivoted to each of the plates opposite the mouth of the coupler head thereon, a link loosely supportedgon each of the brackets and connected one to each of the levers, spring means for iniiuencing the links in one direction, and whereby to swing the levers on their pivots to cause the same to contact with the coupler heads to move the heads laterally on the frame toward each other for forcing the gaskets on said heads into compressing engagement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HAROLD N. MOORE. 

